
The Money Order
1968, Comedy, 1h 30m
10 Reviews 500+ RatingsYou might also like
The Money Order Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Ibrahim Dieng

Director

Writer
Producer

Cinematographer

Film Editor
Critic Reviews for The Money Order
All Critics (10) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (10)
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Sembène looks ruefully yet tenderly at the ruses and wiles of the poor, whose desperate struggles-with the authorities and with one another-distract them from political revolt.
January 11, 2021 | Full Review… -
Although the film can be criticised for the relative gentleness of its attack, Sembene succeeds in pointing up the divisiveness created by the colonial heritage.
June 24, 2006 | Full Review… -
Sembne's approach is spare, laconic, slightly ironic and never patronizing.
August 9, 2005 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Sembene is clearly at his best when trusting in cinema's powers of observation.
August 3, 2005 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… -
An ending that'll haunt you long after the screen's gone dark.
February 27, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review… -
Casts a wary eye at the remaining traces of colonialism, the rigidity of patriarchal modes of expression, and the casual cruelty of a burdensome bureaucracy.
February 19, 2021 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Money Order
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Mar 11, 2009[font=Century Gothic]"Mandabi" starts with Ibrahim Dieng(Makhouredia Gueye) being sent a money order for 25,000 francs from his nephew(Mouss Diouf) in Paris. But before he hears about this, his two wives(Ynousse N'Diaye & Isseu Niang) intercept it and use it to get credit for the local store to buy badly needed rice for their family. Even though he is well fed for a change, Ibrahim is still incensed at their duplicity, afraid his neighbors will find out he has money. Before anything else can happen, he goes to the post office to cash the money order but cannot because he does not have an identity card.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Written and directed by Ousmane Sembene, "Mandabi" is a pointed examination of his home country of Senegal.(Not to mention a warning against buying on credit.) In general, the movie is concerned with identity as Ibrahim is on a desperate search to find any way of proving who he is. As he does this, he gets out of the house to get a better look at his surroundings and does not like what he sees(I did not like Ibrahim at first because of how he treated his wives but eventually warmed up to him.) which reflects the movie's pessimistic tone. Ibrahim has not worked for four years and many other people do not either, due to a lack of jobs.(And those that do either work on the margins or rely on criminal enterprises to get them enough to eat.) His nephew went to Paris to find work but the movie does not advise this course of action. In fact, its advice to the people of Senegal is to stay and fight to make their country a better place.[/font]Walter M Super Reviewer
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